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<a href="/news/wmuwa-international-womens-day-event">WMUWA International Women&#039;s Day Event</a>On 11 March, the WMU Women’s Association (WMUWA) hosted an International Women’s Day (IWD) seminar for students and staff reflecting the official IWD 2019 theme, “Think Equal, Build Smart and Innovate for Change”.Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU. She noted that in 1992, IMO made an estimation that 1 or 2 per cent of the total seafaring population were women, including those who work in service sections on board ships, such as hotel and catering personnel. In 2003 - 13 years later - while at the International Labour Organization, a study on Women Seafarers was commissioned and published under her responsibility and estimated that the percentage of women in maritime was between 1 and 2 per cent of the total seafaring population. According to the 2015 BIMCO/ICS manpower report, the percentage of women seafarers was still only 1 per cent. The conclusion is that women’s participation in seafaring jobs continues to be as low as it was 25 years ago.President Doumbia-Henry noted that the progress for gender equality is slow due in part to a growing gender digital divide resulting in women being under-represented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the so called STEM fields. She maintained the importance of International Women’s Day that highlights the roles of industry leaders, game-changing start-ups, social entrepreneurs, gender equality activists, and women innovators to examine the ways in which innovation can remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality, encourage investment in gender-responsive social systems, and build services and infrastructure that meet the needs of women and girls. “Remember that innovation and technology create unprecedented opportunities for women and girls to play an active role in building more inclusive systems, efficient services and sustainable infrastructure to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and gender equality,” she stated.Welcome remarks were made by Carol Schroeder, the current WMUWA President. She noted that all individuals have an important role to play in promoting gender equality and she emphasized the important role of the WMUWA in connecting and inspiring women in the maritime industry as well as promoting female maritime professionals. She stated, “We must, without fail, continue the gender equality dialogue, drive and follow through on the vision and objectives of the UN SDG 5 in our respective countries beyond WMU. This is of course an immense task that cannot be done alone and therefore I call upon all everyone sitting here today to be united in diversity, as each of us have a role to play in realizing the goals of gender equality and no contribution will be too small. This will not be easy, but make no mistake it is possible.”&nbsp;The guest speaker for the event was Mr. Samuel A. Adewole, Social Scientist and IT Consultant. He encouraged a pro-active approach in the workplace, taking on challenging tasks that demonstrate ability and competency. Further, he emphasized the importance of mentorship, professionalism, and leadership. “Find what you are good at, and shine that gift to the world,” he stated.A video message was delivered from Captain Rhadkia Menon, recipient of the 2016 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery. She highlighted the importance of believing in yourself and being assertive, noting that there is no substitute for competency. In addition, several WMU students, both male and female, presented their unique career and life situations and perspectives regarding gender equality. The event concluded with a panel discussion.The objectives of the WMUWA are to connect, educate and inspire women in the maritime industry and to promote the interests of female maritime professionals through the creation of an international network for women from the WMU and women involved in other internationally recognized female associations in the maritime sector.International Women’s Day (IWD) was established in the early 1900s and celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975. It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity and is celebrated annually on 8 March.For a full album of photos, click here.March 15, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/wmu-expands-connection-italian-stakeholders-through-imssea-workshop">WMU Expands Connection with Italian Stakeholders through IMSSEA Workshop </a>On 7 March, the International Maritime Safety Security Academy (IMSSEA) hosted a clustering workshop entitled “Maritime training and research activities” in Genova, Italy. The event was aimed at strengthening the collaboration between the World Maritime University (WMU) and Italian stakeholders, particularly in the maritime industry, to identify research and skill development needs. In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU, highlighted the fruitful collaboration to date with the Italian stakeholders. This includes Memoranda of Understanding with the University of Genova, as well as IMSSEA that have strengthened WMU’s research and academic activities with the Italian maritime and ocean industries.The the Italian partners have also hosted WMU Maritime Energy Management students on field study visits as well as provided visiting professors to lecture at the University in Malmö. Furthermore, the University of Genoa co-organized the WMU Migration by Sea Symposium in 2015 and the WMU International Conference on Maritime Energy Management in 2016 included prominent speakers from the Italian stakeholders.IMSSEA is an international maritime education and training center specialized in the training of senior specialist maritime personnel in various aspects of shipping and related fields. The workshop brought together over 50 maritime and ocean stakeholders from industry to academia, and from both the public and private sectors. Discussions focused on developing collaboration opportunities in terms of research and education and centered around three topics: Energy and Environmental Industry and Technologies, Critical Infrastructures, and Research and Education. &nbsp;Adv. Carlo Golda, University of Genoa and Mr. Cristiano Cafferata, technical cyber security expert (Securenclave) served as moderators. The event was sponsored by Swascan, Tech2, ICT companies and Italbrokers.The visit to Italy provided additional, key opportunities to make and strengthen connections for WMU. President Doumbia-Henry was welcomed by the Pro-Rector for Research and Technology Transfer, Marco Invernizzi of the University of Genova &nbsp;and Mr. Sandro Scarrone, President of CETENA S.p.A., a study centre in the maritime field. There was also an opportunity to visit Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilding company with its headquarters in Genova. The visits strengthened potential research and academic collaboration between WMU and the Italian private sector, contributing to the strategic objectives of the University which include working with industry to inform research and teaching. A meeting with Rina - the Italian Classification Society - was also held, taking into account the important role that classification societies play in ensuring effective implementation of Conventions adopted by the IMO.March 14, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/president-doumbia-henry-visits-emsa">President Doumbia-Henry Visits EMSA</a>On 1 March, President Doumbia-Henry was welcomed to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) by Ms Maja Markovčić Kostelac, Executive Director of EMSA. The courtesy visit provided the opportunity to discuss fellowships administered by EMSA and potential areas of cooperation in areas of research and capacity-building.EMSA officially launched the “European Neighbours Policy” Maritime Fellowships at WMU in early February. The fellowships are provided under the framework of the EU-funded regional projects SAFEMED IV EuroMed Maritime Safety project” and “Maritime safety, security and marine environmental protection in the Black and Caspian Sea Regions” (BCSEA).The objective of the procedure is to enable staff members from the maritime administrations of beneficiary countries of SAFEMED IV project and the BCSEA project to enrol and attend the 14-month Standard Master Programme in Maritime Affairs (Fellowship) offered by WMU with the financial and managerial support by EMSA. The Agency is funding 8 fellowships (4 for the SAFEMED IV project and 4 for the BCSEA project, maximum one per country). The deadline for applications is 1 April 2019.The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange information on areas of interest and ongoing research and development activities in both organizations. WMU introduced the TRANSPORT2040 study on the implications of technology and automation on jobs and employment in the transport sector. WMU also reported about ongoing efforts in areas related to distance and e-learning tools. Both organizations have a strong interest in capacity building in the maritime transport sector and will continue the dialogue in this regard.March 8, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/international-womens-day-2019">International Women’s Day 2019</a>International Women’s Day (IWD) was established in the early 1900s and celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975. It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity and is celebrated annually on 8 March.The World Maritime University (WMU), since it was established in 1983 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has been committed to the advancement of women in the maritime sector. To date 1,029 women have graduated from WMU. The 2030 United Nations Development Goals (UNSDGs), in particular Goals 4, 5 and 8, are related to the advancement of women in the maritime and ocean professions, and thus to the 2019 World Maritime Day Theme, Empowering Women in the Maritime Community. These goals, among others, have been integrated into the strategic directions of the World Maritime University. Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU, stated that the University has proven that it is possible to make changes in a short period of time. Until the late 1990s, female students made up less than 5 per cent of the Malmö intake for its MSc in Maritime Affairs. A recruitment strategy with strong support from fellowship donors has resulted in the proportion of female students rising to roughly a third of the annual intake in Malmö, and last year the MSc in International Transport and Logistics (ITL) Class in Shanghai achieved gender parity with 50 per cent female students.President Doumbia-Henry stated, “WMU has an important role to play in addressing the obstacles that impede the empowerment of women in order to enhance maritime and ocean governance. Education is the most powerful motor to deliver change and to change gender stereotypes. At WMU, we are well equipped to help promote gender equality in maritime and ocean industries and encourage young women to go to sea, to opt for a rewarding maritime career whether on board ship or ashore and to ensure that our national maritime schools attract new generations of women and enable them to take advantage of a maritime career.”The World Maritime University Women’s Association (WMUWA) will host an IWD seminar on 11 March for students and staff reflecting the official IWD 2019 theme, “Think Equal, Build Smart and Innovate for Change”. The objectives of the WMUWA are to connect, educate and inspire women in the maritime industry and to promote the interests of female maritime professionals through the creation of an international network for women from the WMU and women involved in other internationally recognized female associations in the maritime sector.WMU Empowering Women in the Maritime Community ConferenceTo address the gender gap in the maritime, oceans, ports, fishing and related industries, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that the theme of World Maritime Day 2019 will be “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”. According to the IMO, the selection of this theme provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality, in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to highlight the important contribution of women all over the world to the maritime sector. In 2019, WMU will therefore host its Third International Women’s Conference from 4-5 April 2019 on the theme “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”.The Conference will bring together participants from governments and industry, including the maritime, ocean and port sectors, as well as UN agencies, academia, research institutes, NGOs, media and WMU/IMLI alumni. The aim is to identify and address gaps in current policies and programmes that hinder women’s access to employment opportunities in pursuing careers in the maritime, port and ocean sectors, and to actively promote and implement strategies and policies that will change the current landscape. This is a call for action in support of achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 5 (gender equality).To learn more about the efforts of IMO and WMU to promote gender equality click here.March 8, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/wmu-launches-maritime-energy-postgraduate-diploma-distance-learning">WMU Launches Maritime Energy Postgraduate Diploma by Distance Learning</a>Today, 5 March 2019, the World Maritime University is launching a new, ground-breaking Postgraduate Diploma programme on Maritime Energy by distance learning. The Maritime Energy programme takes a holistic approach from ships to ports and shipyards, combining innovative technical solutions with a socio-economic-environmental perspective.“The 2015 Paris Agreement and new IMO greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) Strategy require a significant reduction in GHG to be achieved over the coming decades, reaching zero emissions of CO2 before the end of this century,” said Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, WMU’s President. “The University takes very seriously our commitment to do all we can to assist IMO member States to implement the IMO regulations to reduce sulphur oxides emissions from ships, thereby working to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 7, ensuring affordable and clean energy for all and Goal 13, taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Our Maritime Energy postgraduate diploma programme is intended to help achieve this important objective.”Professor Aykut Ölçer, Head of Maritime Energy Management, and also Director of Maritime Research, added: “Industry and governments around the world are all engaged in the international effort to battle climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants, sea-level rise and weather-pattern changes. At the same time, there is constant pressure towards cost-efficiency and market competitiveness. The knowledge to be gained from this Postgraduate Diploma is directly applicable by companies seeking innovative and sustainable technologies and solutions that offer a competitive advantage and help achieve a low carbon and energy efficient maritime future.”The programme is designed for people with a technical profile (e.g. naval architects, deck officers and engineers, surveyors etc.) as well as other maritime professionals. It carries 40 European credits, and can be completed over a single year, or spread over three years. It is comprised of five modules. The content of the programme is constantly updated to ensure relevance and topicality. For full details, including content, calendar, fees and payment system, and to apply for admission, please visit pgdme.wmu.se.March 5, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/empowering-women-maritime-community-feature">Empowering Women in the Maritime Community Feature</a>Since being founded in 1983 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Maritime University (WMU) has been committed to the advancement of women. To further the efforts to achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and in honour of the IMO World Maritime Day theme for 2019, "Empowering Women in the Maritime Community," WMU will feature meritorious persons throughout 2019 and present their perspectives on gender equality in the maritime sector. We begin close to home with our own President, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry.Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-HenryWMU is committed to advancing the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). What is the connection between the SDGs and the advancement of women in the maritime and ocean industries?The 2030 United Nations Development Goals (UNSDGs), in particular Goals 4, 5 and 8, are related to the advancement of women in the maritime and ocean professions, and thus to the 2019 World Maritime Day Theme, Empowering Women in the Maritime Community. These goals, among others, have been integrated into the strategic directions of the World Maritime University. UNSDG Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Goal 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Goal 8 focuses on decent work and economic growth.The kind of education and training that supports the maritime and ocean industries can be broadly divided into two categories – vocational or technical training that seeks to enable individuals acquire specific practical and often directly relevant on-the-job training and skills; and general-level education – often associated with the award of degrees – which allows for a generalist approach to developing critical thinking skills, questioning the status quo and leadership for development. While these elements are of utmost importance to achieving the UNSDGs, WMU’s contribution lies mostly in the latter realm where we enable maritime leaders through our post-graduate education to create tangible impact in ocean and maritime affairs.The Empowering Women in the Maritime Community theme is intended to drive change and enable the advancement of women. It provides an incredible opportunity to move from promise to action, from lofty goals to concrete outcomes and effective implementation of Goal 5. Governments, industry, academia and civil society all have a role to play in this respect.You served as Director of the International Labour Standards Department of the International Labour Office (ILO) and were responsible for developing the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 and remained responsible for it until joining WMU in 2015. What does employment for women look like in the maritime industry today?When IMO made an estimation of women seafarers in 1992, 1 or 2 percent of the total seafaring population were women, including those who work in service sections on board ships, such as hotel and catering personnel. In 2003, in my previous career at the ILO, under my responsibility, a study on Women Seafarers was commissioned and published. It estimated then that the percentage of women in maritime was between 1 and 2 per cent of the total seafaring population. Women seafarers on cargo vessels were even less, 0.12 per cent. According to the 2015 BIMCO/ICS manpower report, the percentage of women seafarers was still only 1 per cent. This reflects that women’s participation in seafaring jobs continues to be &nbsp;as low as it was 25 years ago.According to WMU’s publication, “Maritime Women: Global Leadership”, published in 2015, WMU estimated that women now represent between 3 and 30 per cent in various maritime organizations. This includes the merchant marine, the cruise sector and the onshore maritime cluster. According to the publication, what has been hindering progress in achieving greater gender equality in the maritime sector is the long misplaced perception that women are not suitable for working on board ships due to the nature of seafaring.At WMU, we are making rapid progress in pursuing gender equality in the maritime and ocean industries. We hope that this will be a motivating factor for women to look at maritime and oceans opportunities in their broadest perspectives. Of course, we cannot merely compare one organisation with the whole world of the maritime labour force. However, I must emphasize that it is WMU’s mission to help promote change in the maritime industry and we are sparing no effort in contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5: “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”. We are actually encouraged by the report of the McKinsey Global Institute, which estimates that in their “full-potential” scenario, if women participate in the economy at the same level as men, they would add up to $28 trillion, or 26 per cent, to annual global GDP by 2025 compared with a business-as-usual scenario.What is the World Maritime University doing to increase gender equality in the maritime and ocean sectors?Education promotes equality and empowers women. It seeks to ensure the full and effective participation and equal opportunities at all levels of decision-making whether in political, economic, academic, business or public life. In line with Goal 5 on gender equality, the IMO’s Medium Term Plan has an objective to improve women’s access to maritime training. WMU is keenly focused on increasing women’s participation in access to educational opportunities in the maritime sector, including at the postgraduate level, to enable their full participation in the maritime and ocean industries.&nbsp;&nbsp;WMU has proven that it is possible to make changes in a short period of time. Until the late 1990s, female students made up less than 5 per cent of the Malmö intake. A recruitment strategy with strong support from fellowship donors has resulted in the proportion of female students rising to roughly a third of the annual intake in Malmö, and last year our MSc in International Transport and Logistics (ITL) class in Shanghai achieved gender parity with 50 per cent female students. During my tenure at WMU, we had a record number of 48 women enrolled in our Malmö-based MSc programme, reaching 37 per cent for the 2016-2017 student intake. Since the establishment of WMU in 1983, out of the total of 4,919 graduates, 1,029 have been women, i.e., 20 per cent.Women are enrolled across all of our MSc in Maritime Affairs specializations that include Maritime Education &amp; Training; Maritime Energy Management; Maritime Law &amp; Policy; Maritime Safety &amp; Environmental Administration; Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management; Port Management; and Shipping Management &amp; Logistics. In addition to the strong enrollment of women in our MSc programme in Shanghai, several women are also enrolled in our Maritime Safety and Environmental Management programme in Dalian, China. Many women are also enrolled in our distance learning programmes on Marine Energy; Marine Insurance; International Maritime Law; Executive Maritime Management; and Maritime Safety and Security; as well as the LLM by distance learning in International Maritime Law. These distance learning programmes enable those who are not able to join the academic programme in Malmö to progress in their desire for a quality maritime education at an affordable cost and with the flexibility distance learning provides.Priority therefore needs to be given in the use of resources to identify measures that can further promote career opportunities and improved working and living conditions for women seafarers, including health and wellbeing at work. Much still remains to be done to level the playing field for women in maritime, particularly in shipping. Maritime education and training has an important role to play in this regard, and there is much work to be done regarding the perceptions of what is appropriate work for women.From 4 to 5 April 2019, WMU will host its Third International Women’s Conference on the theme “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”. The event is already gaining significant attention and interest from the community of traditional stakeholders and beyond. With an incredible line-up of prominent speakers, the conference will bring together Governments, industry - including the maritime, port, ocean and fishing sectors - international organizations, academia, research institutes, NGOs, indigenous communities, media and WMU/IMLI alumni. It will be an important catalyst for assessing the current situation for women in the maritime and oceans industries and making concrete recommendations regarding actions needed for impact and positive change. The outcomes will be compiled and published in a Conference Report that will inform decision-making at the highest levels.&nbsp;&nbsp;You are the first female President of WMU, as well as the first from a developing country. What has your personal journey been as your career evolved with a maritime focus?In 1984, I obtained a Ph.D. and my thesis was on Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Sea. I was seen to be doing research on a difficult and esoteric topic at the time. With hindsight, I was not. In my long career at the ILO, I used my maritime passion to improve the life of seafarers, fishers and port workers. I can say today that the result was, among many others, the adoption by the ILO of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006), the Seafarers Identity Documents’ Convention (Revised, 2003), The Work in Fishing Convention (2008), and the Code of Practice on Occupational Safety and Health in Ports (2005).These instruments significantly improve the status of seafarers and port workers, and the conditions of their working environment. The MLC, 2006 was not however the effort of a single person. It was no doubt a huge responsibility to coordinate and negotiate with all stakeholders, including governments, shipowners and seafarers’ organizations. While each group had their own interest to pursue, it was important that it was a win-win for all. One of the best-kept secrets is that the MLC, 2006 is the most gender sensitive International Convention of over 100 pages that you can find outside of instruments specifically dedicated to gender equality and non-discrimination. And of this, I am very proud. It was a bold initiative. We should never be afraid of pushing boundaries for a better world.After over 29 years of advancing labour rights around the world, I left the ILO. I took my passion for the sea, for maritime and those who work in this very wide-ranging industry, and in 2015 I joined the World Maritime University. &nbsp;I took up the challenge as the first woman President of the World Maritime University and now devote my energies to maritime education, research, training and capacity building.What do you see as the key in promoting gender equality in the maritime and ocean sectors?Education is the most powerful motor to deliver change and to change gender stereotypes. At WMU, we are well equipped to help promote gender equality in maritime and ocean industries and encourage young women to go to sea, to opt for a rewarding maritime career whether on board ship or ashore and to ensure that our national maritime schools attract new generations of women and enable them to take advantage of a maritime career. The maritime and ocean industries offer careers for seafarers and others engaged in the broader maritime sector, including in maritime education and training, working as marine insurers, ship brokers and integrated shipping services providers, maritime economics and finance professionals, including banking, providers of intelligence for global shipping and trade, classification societies, recruitment and placement agencies, medical doctors and other maritime health specialists, shipbuilding, ship recycling, ports and logistics, coastal and spatial planning to name a few. The oceans focus opens tremendous opportunities for women, with many women marine scientists and women fishers leading the way. There are today, boundless opportunities for women within the maritime and ocean industries, which need to be seized.WMU’s mission is to be the world centre of excellence in postgraduate maritime and oceans education, training and research, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development. We recognise that women are the key to helping empower the maritime industry, closing existing skills gaps, enhancing revenue and ensuring that the maritime and ocean industries remain sustainable for generations to come.From my experience of coordinating and engaging different stakeholders, if we work together, we can achieve the impossible. We can today make a change for tomorrow. Everyone has a role to play to make change possible and sustainable. We must choose to be bold and make this change a reality, together! How many times did I dare to make “bold” decisions in my life? It is not easy to make a change, because some form of sacrifice often accompanies change. We all have various responsibilities at work and with family. But, I was not afraid of making a change. Because, without change, our younger generation will pay the price and the same challenges will remain.As we focus on the future, let us remember all those who blazed the trails for us. We now have the task to do the same for the generations to come. Together we will contribute to the sustainable development of the maritime sector, one that is gender sensitive and that provides equal opportunities for both women and men. Gender equality for a better and more prosperous future for all.February 21, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/jordan-maritime-day-and-mou-signed-jams">Jordan Maritime Day and MoU signed with JAMS</a>At the Jordan Maritime Day celebrations organized by the Jordan Maritime Commission under the auspices of the Jordan Ministry of Transport on 10 February, President Doumbia-Henry delivered a keynote address on the Importance of Training and Human Resources Development in the maritime sector. In her remarks, President Doumbia-Henry noted that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is with us and is characterised by the introduction of artificial intelligence, including self-learning robotics and the Internet of Things. For the maritime sector, new technologies such as automation, maritime safety and security concerns including cyber-security, sustainability of the oceans, innovations in technology, and responding to marine environmental and climate change issues will loom large on the maritime agenda and impact the maritime industry as a whole. Technological developments on the way include autonomous ships and automization of port and other transport chain operations.She stated: “These developments will have implications for policy setting, finance, insurance, environmental issues, energy, technology and geopolitical developments. They will have consequences for society at large and for developing economy countries in particular. The regulatory and legislative challenges facing the industry are expected to be wide-ranging and far-reaching. Qualified and motivated individuals will continue to be the backbone of transport in the future, including in maritime and ports. Education, training and re-skilling will continue to be key requirements to ensure that workers will be ready for the new jobs being created. These issues will all shape employment and the education and training needs of the maritime transport and wider oceans sector. Human capital has driven our progress, and will be the key in making headway toward a more sustainable world, as outlined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”During her visit to Jordan, President Doumbia-Henry and Professor Mustafa Masaad, President of the Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies (JAMS) and a graduate of WMU, signed a new MoU that includes academic information sharing and faculty exchanges as well as cooperation on enrolment of students in the WMU MSc, distance learning and professional development programmes and cooperation on hosting of field studies in Jordan for WMU students.President Doumbia-Henry also met with the Minister of Transport, H.E. Anmar Al Kasawneh, regarding potential cooperation between WMU and the Ministry. She also held discussions with the Director General of the Jordan Maritime Commission, Mr. Salah Ali Abu-Afifeh, a WMU graduate, and visited the Aqaba Company for Ports Operation and Management as well as the Aqaba Development Corporation. The President was accompanied on the visit to Jordan by WMU Associate Professor, Dr. Aref Fakhry.As the shipping industry in the Middle East is expanding rapidly with large vessels and ports that are more sophisticated and incorporate greater automation, highly skilled human resources are needed for safe, secure and efficient operations on clean oceans. WMU’s greater engagement with the the Government and industry partners of Jordan is a natural evolution of these developments.To date, there are 20 WMU graduates from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The first PhD candidate from Jordan enrolled at the close of 2018, and the Malmö MSc Class of 2019 includes the first female student from Jordan.February 15, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/wmu-and-japan-cooperate-advancing-bbnj-discussions">WMU and Japan cooperate on advancing BBNJ discussions </a>On 7 February, the World Maritime University (WMU) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan hosted an International Workshop on BBNJ. The workshop brought together over 100 participants to address the topic of ‘Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ): Toward Development of Balanced, Effective and Universal International Agreement’. In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU, noted the intrinsic link of the ocean to humanity including that the ocean serves over 80 per cent of world trade which is carried by ships. Despite this inter-dependency, she maintained that since people are predominately land-based, they tend to struggle in placing appropriate value on the ocean, although things are slowly improving. She stated, “Public awareness and perceptions of both the value and vulnerability of the ocean is palpably shifting. This is crucial because as we are facing multiple crises in relation to the health of the ocean and the sustainability of human activities.” She also stated that WMU and its new WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute are committed to contributing to the BBNJ deliberations underway at the UN through engagement and discussion of key issues such as those addressed at the workshop including the peaceful settlement of disputes.The aim of the workshop was to facilitate discussions and greater understanding prior to the 2nd Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) with a view to moving the negotiations towards the development of a balanced, effective and universally agreed internationally legally binding instrument (ILBI). The workshop brought together leading BBNJ negotiators, representatives of UN system bodies, international organizations, governments, academia, and civil society to review progress of the BBNJ negotiations and to look ahead at some of the challenges and opportunities at upcoming sessions of the IGC, including within the broader context of implementing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.In his address, Professor Ronan Long, Director of the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute pointed out that the BBNJ negotiations represented a once in a generation opportunity to make a difference in establishing a new treaty regime for areas beyond national jurisdiction.The topics covered by detailed papers and animated discussions included: Area-Based Management Tools including Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s), Environmental Impact Assessment, Marine Genetic Resources including questions on benefit-sharing, IMO and management of the marine environment, existing efforts of Capacity-Building and BBNJ, Capacity Building and the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and Capacity Building and Transfer of Marine Technology (TMT) for management of BBNJ.Delivering the closing remarks, Mr. Toru Hotta, Director for the Division of the Law of the Sea for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that for the benefit of mankind in the future, the BBNJ legal framework must be established to provide a balance between the conservation of the ocean and its sustainable use. “Conservation and sustainable use are not mutually exclusive concepts,” he stated.Further, Director Hotta maintained that all measures taken toward conservation of the marine environment must be based on scientific knowledge and be in full accordance with established international law. He reiterated that we have a common responsibility to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to enjoy the ocean, and to do so in an equitable manner. Recognizing that the way forward for BBNJ will be confrontational due to various interests of stakeholders on the international committee he maintained that, “the scientific and legal expertise should always provide the common ground from which we start our debate and reach conclusions.”Roughly 60% of the ocean lies in areas beyond national jurisdiction. In its resolution 72/249 of 24 December 2017, the UN General Assembly decided to convene an Intergovernmental Conference, under the auspices of the United Nations, to consider the recommendations of the Preparatory Committee established by resolution 69/292 of 19 June 2015. The Preparatory Committee is to consider the elements and to elaborate the text of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, with a view to developing the instrument as soon as possible. The second session of the IGC will take place in New York from 25 March to 5 April 2019.For photos from the workshop, click here.February 12, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/emsa-launches-european-neighbours-policy-maritime-fellowships-wmu">EMSA launches the “European Neighbours Policy” Maritime Fellowships at WMU</a>The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) officially launched nominations of candidates to join the next class of the Master of Science in Maritime Affairs at the World Maritime University (WMU) for the class 2019-2020. The fellowships are provided under the framework of the EU-funded regional projects SAFEMED IV EuroMed Maritime Safety project” and “Maritime safety, security and marine environmental protection in the Black and Caspian Sea Regions” (BCSEA).The objective of the procedure is to enable staff members from the maritime administrations of beneficiary countries of SAFEMED IV project and the BCSEA project to enrol and attend the 14 months Standard Master Program in Maritime Affairs (Fellowship) offered by the WMU with the financial and managerial support by EMSA. The Agency will fund 8 fellowships (4 for the SAFEMED IV project and 4 for the BCSEA project, maximum one per country).The World Maritime University (WMU) was established under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations. Over the last three decades, WMU has earned global recognition as an international centre of excellence for postgraduate maritime and ocean education, research and capacity-building for the world community.The applicants can apply directly online at the following link:&nbsp;https://www.wmu.se/msc-malmö/apply&nbsp;and must fill out the “Motivational Statement”. However, EMSA will take into considerations only those applicants which have been nominated by the Focal Points. For this reason, the Focal Points must endorse the “Application for Financial Support”.Deadline for applications is 1 April 2019.To apply to WMU, click here.To learn more about the fellowship, click here.February 6, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/wmu-ioi-partner-ocean-sustainability-and-capacity-building">WMU-IOI partner on ocean sustainability and capacity building</a>The President of the World Maritime University (WMU), Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, and the President of the International Ocean Institute (IOI), Mr Nikolaus Gelpke, signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in January 2019.The MoU builds on the shared commitment of the IOI and WMU in supporting implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 focused on sustainable oceans as well as the vital role of education and capacity building in support of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.&nbsp;Dr. Doumbia-Henry welcomed the cooperation and stated, “Since its founding in 1983, WMU has contributed to sustainable use of the ocean by focusing on the implementation and enforcement of IMO instruments to reduce accidents and ship-source pollution. Today, ocean-related matters are incorporated across the breadth of our educational programmes and our research, playing a vital role in global maritime and ocean capacity building. Together with IOI, we will advance the ocean agenda through education, research and capacity building toward the implementation of Goal 14, safeguarding our oceans and marine resources through sustainable development.”Mr. Gelpke commented, “In this era of new global challenges and sectoral integration, capacity building in ocean governance plays a pivotal role in ensuring safe and healthy oceans for the benefit of humankind and the planet. Additionally, obligations towards achieving the SDGs, notably SDG14 and its targets, and other intersecting SDGs, place a burden of responsibility on States and Institutions which may benefit from targeted capacity development and training opportunities for their staff. Implementing the joint actions envisaged in this MoU should enhance the understanding and development of best practice on regional oceans governance systems and the transfer of knowledge and technology for the implementation of the SDGs, particularly for developing countries, SIDS and LDCs.”The MoU fosters the development of collaborative and reciprocal activities in the fields of ocean sustainability, ocean governance, the implementation of the sustainable development goal for the oceans, and the science-law-policy interface. Collaboration in research, training opportunities and capacity-building initiatives and in the delivery of conferences, seminars, workshops and joint publications on matters of common interest will contribute to the achievement of these objectives.February 5, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/wmu-president-calls-input-martid-2019-survey-28-february">WMU President calls for input to MarTID 2019 Survey by 28 February</a>28 February 2019, the new deadline for responding to the second global survey for the Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID), is quickly approaching. The 2019 survey theme focuses on the impact of autonomous vessel operations (actual and potential) on maritime training, and seeks to explore the perspectives of vessel operators/managers, maritime training experts and seafarers in this area.The MarTID team is receiving invaluable input on the 2019 survey, already exceeding the total responses received for the inaugural survey. We thank the many respondents from the maritime community and call for additional input that will inform a comprehensive and inclusive 2019 report that furthers the trend analyses of data related to the first survey as well as provide insights on the 2019 automation theme.We invite input from seafarers, maritime education and training institutions and ship operating/managing companies to complete this 2019 survey before the 28 February deadline. &nbsp;Your input will continue the development of a comprehensive MarTID dataset, the analysis of which will be of significant benefit to the global maritime community, generating insights that enhance policy-setting, decision-making, benchmarking and operational optimization by industry operators and regulatory authorities at all levels.&nbsp;&nbsp;To take the 2019 survey, please visit www.martid.org.&nbsp;&nbsp;The mission of MarTID is to help ensure safe, efficient and sustainable maritime operations on clean oceans by providing the maritime industry with objective and comprehensive data on how it manages and conducts training for shipboard competencies, taking into account the effects of drivers, such as technology, on this training. The 2018 inaugural report is available on the MarTID website (www.martid.org). The secure and anonymized data provides insights into training practices, budgets, priorities, challenges and perspectives as well as a global picture of maritime training that is not currently available anywhere. All MarTID reports are free and available to the general public.The MarTID partners look forward to full engagement of the maritime community in supporting the survey and look forward to releasing the comprehensive report in mid-2019. I wish to sincerely thank you in advance for joining with us to support this important endeavour to continue the development of a robust MarTID database.Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-HenryPresidentWorld Maritime UniversityTo take the 2019 survey, please visit&nbsp;www.martid.org.&nbsp;&nbsp;January 31, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/wmu-isa-partnership-strengthens-marine-science-advance-sustainable-development-goals">WMU-ISA partnership strengthens marine science to advance Sustainable Development Goals</a>The World Maritime University (WMU) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their mutual cooperation with a view, among other things, to advance achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 on oceans. The focus is on improving education and capacity building initiatives in marine science.In signing the MoU, Mr. Michael Lodge, ISA Secretary-General, highlighted that ISA is committed to strengthening the research and analytical capacities of developing countries, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.&nbsp;“An essential part of ISA’s mission is to promote and encourage the conduct of marine scientific research in the international deep seabed area, and especially to facilitate effective participation by developing states in deep sea exploration and research programmes,” said Mr. Lodge.“This partnership with WMU pools together our collective resources and expertise to support Member States, especially SIDS to chart this future together,” he added.Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU, said “WMU is committed to post-graduate education, research and capacity building in the maritime and ocean fields that support the achievement of the UN SDGs, including Goals 4 on education and &nbsp;Goal 14 on the ocean. WMU is committed to supporting developing countries to implement the relevant UNSDGs. We look forward to collaborating with the International Seabed Authority in protecting and restoring one of humanity’s most precious resources.”&nbsp;Under the MoU, both organizations have agreed to develop collaborative research in the fields of ocean sustainability, ocean governance, SDG implementation for the oceans, deepening understanding of the ecosystem functions and services of the international deep seabed area, and the science-law-policy interface.Both parties will also foster research, training opportunities and other capacity-building initiatives and co-operate in the conduct of studies and in the delivery of conferences, seminars, workshops and joint publications on matters of common interest.January 25, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/transport-2040-how-automation-and-technology-will-impact-future-work">Transport in 2040: how automation and technology will impact the future of work </a>On 15 January the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the World Maritime University (WMU) launched a flagship report entitled: “Transport 2040: Automation Technology Employment - the Future of Work”. The forward-looking assessment, produced by WMU, investigates how the global transport industry will change as a result of automation and advanced technologies, forecasting and analyzing trends and developments in the major transport sectors - seaborne, road, rail and aviation - to 2040 with an emphasis on the implications for jobs and employment for transport workers.This first-ever, independent and comprehensive assessment of how automation will affect the future of work in the transport industry focuses on technological changes that the industry is undertaking to efficiently interconnect the world through international trade. Trends in road, air, rail and maritime transport are presented. The report concludes that the introduction of automation in global transport will be “evolutionary, rather than revolutionary,” and that “despite high levels of automation, qualified human resources with the right skill sets will still be needed in the foreseeable future.”Key findings indicate that technological advances are inevitable, but will be gradual and vary by region. Workers will be affected in different ways based on their skill levels and the varying degrees of preparedness of different countries. Case studies, as well as comparisons of autonomy scales and automation potential for job profiles in transport provide insight to the future of work. Regarding maritime transport, the report looks at 17 countries more specifically to assess how prepared they are for technical innovation.The report notes that new technologies and automation are impacting transport sector workers through both the displacement and creation of jobs, and may result in difficult transitions for many employed in the transportation sector. The future of work needs to ensure that workers are suitably qualified and re-trained to effectively master new technologies and higher levels of automation.IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Kitack Lim, opened the launch event noting that integrating new and advancing technologies in the regulatory framework for the shipping industry is a key strategic direction for IMO. “Member States and the industry need to anticipate the impact these changes may have and how they will be addressed,” he stated.Introducing the report, ITF General Secretary, Mr. Stephen Cotton, emphasized that automation, new technology and the future of work are some of the most important challenges facing workers today. He stated, “Transport workers of today and tomorrow must be equipped with the required knowledge, skills and expertise for the jobs of tomorrow. The study provides the information needed to support these aims. The ITF remains committed to working in partnership to ensure our unions and members are central to developments in building the future of work.”The importance of the study was echoed by Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU, who stated, “There are four takeaways from the launch of this major report today: First, the academic freedom that the University had to undertake this independent report, and which was respected by the ITF. &nbsp;Second, the research undertaken has enabled us to design and develop a repository on the status of technology globally, in all modes of transport. Third, it enabled us to provide a more accurate assessment of technology, the modes of transport, and their status in the short, medium and long term. And finally, the report represents research on transport modes that is 60 per cent focused on road, rail and aviation, and 40 per cent on maritime.”Dr. Doumbia-Henry concluded with, “The transportation sector is vital to national economies and the global economy as a whole. We hope this report will help prepare the transportation industry to continue to contribute to the wellbeing of societies and communities worldwide and provide decent work for all.”&nbsp;&nbsp;To access the full “Transport 2040: Automation Technology Employment - the Future of Work” Report, click here.For photos from the launch of the report, click here.January 15, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/wmu-announces-new-coo-and-vp-academic">WMU Announces New COO and VP Academic</a>The World Maritime University is pleased to announce two new members of senior management who have taken up their posts as of 1 January 2019. Dr. Joseph Harbouk is joining WMU as the Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Harbouk holds a BS in Computer Information Systems and an MBA from the University of Indianapolis, and an EdD in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University. He is joining WMU from Harford Community College where he served as Vice President for Finance and Administration. He has held a range of senior management roles at several higher education institutions in the United States. His extensive experience includes leadership, Strategic Planning, Integrated Planning, Facilities Master Planning, administrative efficiency, and development of innovative financial models.Dr. Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs has assumed the role of Vice President (Academic). As a former seafarer, Dr. Schröder-Hinrichs held a Certificate of Competency as Master Mariner. He earned an MSc equivalent degree (Dipl.-Ing.) in Transport Engineering from the University of Rostock and a PhD (Dr.-Ing.) in Safety Science from the University of Wuppertal. Professor Schröder-Hinrichs joined WMU in 2000, most recently serving in the role of Director of Research and Head of the Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration specialization. Beginning in 2009, he coordinated the Maritime Risk and System Safety (MaRiSa) Research Group and served for several years as the Editor of the WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs. His areas of expertise include implementation and enforcement of IMO instruments, accident analysis, maritime safety and risk assessment.January 2, 2019World Maritime University<a href="/news/ocean-literacy-2018-conference">Ocean Literacy 2018 Conference</a>President Doumbia-Henry was a keynote speaker at the Ocean Literacy Conference that took place in Malmö, Sweden from 6 to 7 December. The conference brought together nearly 100 participants to inspire and debate marine education and ocean literacy from a local perspective, focusing in particular on coastal cities. The event was held in support of achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.The conference addressed how to instill knowledge about the sea at an early age, motivating future generations to undertake preventative work and increase knowledge and understanding regarding the importance of our ocean. Main topics included capacity development and knowledge alliances for the sea, the role and responsibilities of coastal towns and cities, and ocean literacy in schools. President Doumbia-Henry noted that a major challenge for achieving sustainable management of the ocean and to increase ocean literacy is to overcome what is sometimes referred to as “ocean blindness.” She stated, “Although we may live all our lives in a region close to the sea, we are essentially land-based creatures who spend most of our time on land. Hence, finding a connection to the sea, as well as recognising and appreciating all the services the sea provides us, may be difficult. It is imperative to understand how human activities affect the ocean and the marine ecosystem as well as how the ocean affects life on land.” The President emphasized the important role the ocean plays as a climate regulator, provider of food, and driver for economic development with shipping facilitating over 80% of global trade. She noted the important role that education and training has in safeguarding this precious resource and ensuring safe, secure, and efficient shipping on clean and sustainably used oceans. In that regard, she highlighted the WMU-Sasakawa Global Oceans Institute that was inaugurated this past May. The Institute aims to act as an independent focal point for ocean-related dialogue and capacity-building, enhancing the University’s goal to continue building maritime and ocean-related capacity for sustainable development.The conference focused on promoting marine education at an early age, and 14 year old Ms. Stella Bowles was a featured speaker. Ms. Bowles rose to prominence in Canada as a young environmentalist when she discovered that untreated wastewater was released through straight pipes directly into the LaHave river near her home. At 11 years old, as part of her school science project, she developed a water sampling toolkit and programme for young people in Canada. Her efforts resulted in the government providing 15.7 million CAD for a LaHave River clean-up plan. In commenting about the future, she stated, “I’m hopeful that more youth will take on causes that they believe in themselves and create more change.” In addition to Ms. Bowles, several local, school-age students were in attendance from Kryddgårdsskolan and Malmö Latin school and provided thoughtful input to the panel debate. About Ocean Literacy 2018In 2017, Sweden and Fiji co-chaired a high-level Conference at the United Nations to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The City of Malmö, ICLEI and WMU together committed to use the Life Below Water 2017 conference in Malmö as a starting point for a mobilization of action at a local level led by local governments. The Ocean Literacy Conference was the next step and was organized by the City of Malmö and WMU in cooperation with the Marine Educational Center in Malmö and IOC-UNESCO.December 12, 2018World Maritime University<a href="/news/round-table-discussion-imo-challenges">Round Table Discussion - IMO Challenges</a>As the conclusion of a two-week, intensive foundation course focusing on the IMO System for Maritime Governance, a round table discussion was held at WMU on 5 December regarding key challenges facing the IMO. The debate highlighted that a new paradigm shift is needed to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.The round table discussion was the culmination of the course and addressed the ship emissions sulfur cap, climate change as well as relevant IMO reforms. Invited speakers included: Dorota Lost-Sieminska, Deputy Director and Head, Legal Affairs Office, Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, IMO; Charlotte A. Steen, Deputy Director General, Danish Maritime Authority; Clea Henrichsen, Special Advisor, Danish Maritime Authority; Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, BIMCO; and Fotis Karamitsos, Deputy Director-General (ret'd), Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission. It was noted that the significant capacity-building undertaken for decades by IMO and its educational institutions, notably the World Maritime University (WMU) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), placed a responsibility on beneficiary States to take serious actions commensurate with the IMO mandate to ensure safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans. The discussion highlighted that IMO had made significant strides in reducing the impact of shipping on climate change, yet there is more to be done, particularly to ensure that developing countries are not left out of the cleaner shipping string of MARPOL-observant States.As part of the foundation studies for the Class of 2019, the overall course provided a broad review of IMO Conventions and the organization’s working arrangements. Throughout the course, students engaged in highly interactive activities including group work and a simulation of an IMO technical committee meeting where a new emissions control area (ECA) was tabled for debate. The idea stemmed from a proposal made on the sidelines of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee’s (MEPC) 73rd session for the setting up of an ECA in the Mediterranean region. The course was delivered by WMU’s Professor Max Mejia and Associate Professor Aref Fakhry.December 12, 2018World Maritime University<a href="/news/domestic-ferry-safety-exercise-conducted-indonesia">Domestic Ferry Safety Exercise Conducted in Indonesia</a>From 26-30 November, WMU played a lead role together with IMO Staff in conducting a Hazard Identification (HAZID)/Scoping Exercise to identify safety issues pertaining to passenger ships on non-international voyages in Indonesia. The exercise was hosted by Indonesia’s Directorate General of Sea Transportation within the Ministry of Transportation and organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).The mission provided the basis to discuss domestic ferry safety issues in Indonesia. Interviews were conducted with various local stakeholders to provide a holistic overview of the current situation. Field visits included the ferry terminals in Merak and the PT. Samudra Marine Indonesia (SMI) Shipyard. The result of the mission will be a comprehensive report providing recommendations on how to improve ferry safety in Indonesia.WMU Professor, Dr. Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs, was the lead consultant working together with Mr. Bekir Sitki Ustaoglu, Head of the Asia and Pacific Section for IMO’s Technical Cooperation Division, Ms. Josephine Uranza, IMO Regional Coordinator East Asia for IMO’s Technical Cooperation Division and Mr. Stephan P. Assheuer of admaris GmbH as an IMO Consultant.WMU’s participation in the exercise reflects its capacity building mission as well as WMU’s commitment to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and, in particular, Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. The mission is also a contribution to Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.Such missions are also in line with the WMU Strategic Plan 2016-2019, in particular, Strategic Direction 7 that calls for further collaboration with IMO.December 12, 2018World Maritime University<a href="/news/wmu-welcomes-itf-general-secretary-and-president">WMU Welcomes ITF General Secretary and President</a>On 5 December, President Doumbia-Henry welcomed Mr. Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and ITF President, Mr. Paddy Crumlin. The distinguished guests delivered a lecture to students in the Class of 2019 about the work of ITF globally. Following the lecture, Mr. Cotton and Mr. Crumlin had the opportunity to meet with ITF Fellows in the Class of 2019 prior to a meeting with President Doumbia-Henry.Mr. Cotton provided the students with an overview of the ITF, a global union federation of transport workers' trade unions. He noted, in particular, the efforts of the ITF over the past 20 years to fight gender discrimination. “The key issue for women of the ITF is to make sure there is a space for them in the transport sector, and that there are opportunities for them to develop equally and fairly. One of our core issues is defending women transport workers against violence in the workplace. It is a strong way of mobilizing women’s empowerment and building networks and strong leaders in the trade union movement,” he stated.In addressing the students, Mr. Crumlin noted the exceptional diversity of the students at WMU, and pointed to the opportunity they have, when they graduate as WMU alumni, to make a difference in the maritime industry. He stated, “WMU is an alma mater that is tying together a dysfunctional industry in a way that is creating functionality, harmony, equity and opportunity that was unforeseen. Your work is beyond boundaries, beyond ethnicity, beyond age and gender. You are going to be part of the accountability and the process of change. You can make a difference.”President Doumbia-Henry thanked the distinguished guests and noted the long-standing support the ITF has provided to the University through funding 123 fellowships as well as research programmes and educational offerings. She stated, “The ITF is one of the most influential trade union organizations in the world, and a true champion of supporting and defending workers’ rights in the entire transport chain. Its proactive work is far-reaching and together with shipowners’ and governments, was instrumental within the International Labour Organization (ILO) in developing and adopting the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006 as amended), a landmark international treaty that has been designed to adapt to the changing circumstances and the future of the maritime industry. The ITF has also been truly effective in its worldwide campaign to promote decent work for seafarers, eliminate sub-standard ships and promote a level playing field. The important work that the ITF does to improve conditions for workers in the maritime transport sector, and transport chain globally, is to be complemented.”ITF has been a long-standing supporter and partner of WMU. Currently the University is working closely with ITF on two projects. The first relates to the impact of new technologies likely to be introduced in the global transportation sector by 2040, with a special emphasis on maritime transport. The project focuses on assessing the implications of new technologies and automation on jobs and the employment situation in the transport sector, including the mitigation of some of the negative side effects of the implementation of technologies and automation. The second project concerns the ground-breaking seafarer welfare training programme MARI-WEL. Led by world-leading experts in the field of seafarer rights, regulations, and welfare issues, it is the first programme of its kind to deliver a comprehensive overview of the topics and issues that relate to seafarer welfare. MARI-WEL is delivered as a distance learning course that is designed to meet the needs of anyone who works with or interacts with seafarers, both onboard and onshore, including ship management companies, crewing agencies, port chaplains, and welfare providers.&nbsp;ITF is an international federation of transport workers' trade unions established in 1896. Today, it has a membership of 670 unions in 140 countries, representing over 19.7 million men and women in all transport sectors. The ITF promotes respect for trade union and human rights worldwide. The ITF is one of several global unions federation unions which are members of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).The ITF, through the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, has to date funded the education of 123 WMU students from 44 countries, 40% of whom are female maritime professionals. The ITF additionally offers their fellows a week-long field study at the International Transport Workers’ Federation headquarters in London, which includes visits to Tilbury Port, seafarer welfare organizations and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).WMU and ITF will continue to cooperate closely on future projects and programmes where synergies are found that contribute to the strategic goals of both WMU and the ITF.December 11, 2018World Maritime University<a href="/news/2019-martid-survey-launched">2019 MarTID Survey Launched</a>The second annual MarTID survey has been launched to continue the study of global maritime training practices. Separate surveys are available until 31 January for seafarers, ship operators, and maritime education and training institutions.MarTID – the global Maritime Training Insights Database – is designed to provide a global picture of maritime training that is not currently available, offering the global maritime community data on current and emerging training trends and techniques, staffing models, training focus areas, training tools, training resource allocation and assessment practices. It is generally perceived that ‘the human element’ is the leading contributory causative factor in up to 80% or more of maritime accidents. In response, vessel operators and maritime training centers are investing in creating best practice and innovative training programmes. However, maritime industry training approaches, successes, and failures are not broadly studied or shared leaving training leaders to their own devices to invent and design their best practice training approach.The mission of MarTID is to help ensure safe, efficient and sustainable maritime operations on clean oceans through providing the maritime industry with comprehensive data on how it manages and conducts training for shipboard competencies. This includes the effects of drivers, such as technology, on the training. The data is updated annually by means of the global survey providing insights that can lead to enhanced policy-setting, decision-making, benchmarking and operational optimization by industry and regulatory authorities at all levels.The inaugural, 2018 survey focused on collecting a broad set of foundational training data. The 2019 survey has been condensed and consists of two sections. The first seeks to collect benchmark data, tracked annually, to help reveal trends with respect to core training issues including training budgets, training models, training staffing, the use of technology, major training initiatives, and seafarer demographics. For 2019, a theme for the second section focuses on the impact of autonomous vessel operations (actual and potential) on maritime training. The survey seeks to explore the perspectives of vessel operators/managers, maritime administrators, maritime training experts and seafarers in this area. Going forward, the MarTID survey will follow a themed approach with one section annually on tracked data and a second section focused on a theme of contemporary relevance.MarTID is a non-commercial initiative collaboratively founded in 2017 by the World Maritime University, New Wave Media and Marine Learning Systems. The MarTID &nbsp;reports are free and distributed widely to reach a global audience. The 2018 inaugural report was the first tangible outcome of the initiative. The MarTID team and the collaborating institutions take this opportunity to thank all respondents of the inaugural survey, and extend gratitude in advance to all respondents of the 2019 survey. The 2019 MarTID survey is available through 31 January 2019. To take the survey, visit &nbsp;http://scholar.wmu.se/martid.November 30, 2018World Maritime University<a href="/news/wmu-hosts-north-sea-marine-spatial-planning-training">WMU Hosts North Sea Marine Spatial Planning Training</a>From 21-22 November, WMU hosted a marine spatial planning (MSP) training session within the framework of the NorthSEE project of which WMU is one of the partners. Attended by staff members from national authorities responsible for MSP in Belgium, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden and Germany, the training focused on transnational cooperation in MSP between the North Sea countries with a particular emphasis on transnational shipping. The training utilized the MSP Challenge simulation tool developed by the Dutch Ministry of Environment and Infrastructure together with the University of Breda.Starting from a holistic view of the entire North Sea area, participants drew a marine spatial plan for a specific country utilizing real life data from the North Sea Region (NSR) that is provided by the MSP Challenge software as well as fictitious country profiles specifically developed for the training session. The training provided participants with a better understanding of the complexity of planning a common sea area that is shared by several different countries and sectoral interests.The North Sea is both an environmental asset and a source for value generation for different maritime sectors. MSP is a process that helps balance the often competing user interests as well as environmental protection objectives. However, MSP can only be effective if national Maritime Spatial Plans are coordinated and not contradictory. A lack of MSP coordination leads to spatial inefficiencies, higher costs for maritime industries and compromised environmental objectives. The NorthSEE project focuses on a sea-basin-wide coordination process among MSP authorities in the NSR. In this context, NorthSEE aims at achieving greater coherence in MSP across the NSR on three transnational topics: environmental aspects, shipping routes and energy infrastructure.November 28, 2018World Maritime University